The Self-Cultivation of a Disciple’s Treasure

Older master and younger disciple.

-- Pre-release: Please add "Old Foes Come From Afar" to your library. Childhood friends reunite after a falling-out, with an older sovereign gong. --

A Disciple's Guide to Being a Good Master's Treasure:

Rule One: Master is always right.

Rule Two: If Master is wrong, refer to Rule One.

~

Lu Xiaosi had diligently lived as an ordinary human for sixteen years, but overnight, cat ears and a tail sprouted from his head.

Terrified, he ran up Mount Taiwei in the middle of the night to ask the immortals to "cure" him.

But by accident, he took a wrong turn and ended up in the line of candidates hoping to join the Taiwei Immortal Sect.

Bewildered, Lu Xiaosi followed the others through one trial after another, then stood on Chuyan Terrace waiting for the immortals to choose their disciples.

A gust of wind exposed his beast ears to everyone's gaze.

The crowd gasped, crying out, "A demon spy actually dares to infiltrate Mount Taiwei!"

Lu Xiaosi couldn't defend himself, and could only repeat in a tiny voice, "I only came here to get treated."

His orange cat ears quivered, then slowly flattened, faithfully reflecting their owner's feelings.

Suddenly, a streak of white light flashed down before him, transforming into the most beautiful immortal he had ever seen.

The immortal wore white, with silver hair. Even his eyelashes and brows were pure as snow. His lovely eyes fixed on Lu Xiaosi coldly as he slowly raised his finely boned hand.

The people around them immediately retreated several steps, afraid the little demon's blood might splatter on them.

Lu Xiaosi squeezed his eyes shut. But the immortal merely touched his forehead lightly with one finger, and a voice as clear as a mountain spring sounded in his ear:

"This disciple is mine."

~

In an age of war between humans, demons, immortals, and devils, Mount Taiwei gave birth to a holy son of the immortal race, prophesied to "end the age of chaos": Qi Jiuwei.

Gifted with the fortune of the Heavenly Dao, Qi Jiuwei cultivated at astonishing speed. Before he turned thirty, he had become the greatest cultivator in the realm, earning the title of Immortal Venerable Jinghua.

The Immortal Venerable Jinghua was noble and immaculate, cold as frost, and loathed demons and devils above all.

He slayed demons when he encountered them and killed devils when they crossed his path. No demon or devil could survive even fifteen minutes in his presence.

Except for his disciple, who had cat ears and a tail and seemed to be a cat demon.

~

After being accepted as a disciple by the Immortal Venerable Jinghua, Lu Xiaosi blindly worshipped and trusted his master, the banished immortal who seemed like a savior.

Every word his master said was sacred, and he committed every lesson his master taught to heart. His cultivation goal was to become an exemplary master's treasure, unwaveringly putting his master's wishes above all else.

Until one day, his master pinned him to the bed. His master's silver hair had turned black, and he held Lu Xiaosi's chin, a roguish smile replacing the frost on his usually cold face. "Good disciple, today I'll teach you your final lesson: don't trust anyone, including me, your master."

A master gong who seems like a noble, virtuous sage but is actually ruthless x a cute, kind, honest, and brave disciple who is his master's treasure

Content warnings:

1. The gong really is noble and virtuous in the early chapters.

2. The shou is a little too kind in the early chapters.

-- Pre-release: Please add "Old Foes Come From Afar" to your library. --

Childhood friends reunite after a falling-out, with an older sovereign gong.

Eleven years ago, young Shen Li, who was idling away his days at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion on Mount Qiyang, met Wen Yuming, the young lord of Yueli.

Sixteen-year-old Wen Yuming was a refined young gentleman, delicate yet tinged with a faint melancholy. He instantly captured the heart of twelve-year-old Shen Li, and the boy's first crush was born.

Young Shen Li used all his little tricks, schemes, and tantrums to try to make Wen Yuming stay.

But the young lord Wen, heir to a powerful family, ultimately chose to descend the mountain and return home to fight for power.

Eleven years later, Shen Li carried the Heavenly Secrets Token, which granted him authority to interfere in Yueli's government. Bathed in the pitying, sorrowful gazes of the crowd, he made his way toward the imperial city of Yueli, step by step.

"The last Heavenly Secrets emissary died under mysterious circumstances. How could the Pavilion dare to send another?"

"What a shame. He's so young, and now he's going to die."

Shen Li paid them no mind. All he knew was that behind those gold and red brick walls was the person he had longed for over the past eleven years.

In the golden hall, Shen Li raised his head without permission amid the kneeling ministers, meeting the gaze that had been fixed on him all along.

Time left its mark in that moment.

The little rascal of years past had grown into a handsome young man, gentle as jade.

And Wen Yuming, once a proper young gentleman, had become a tyrannical ruler whose name made everyone tremble.

Hearing Wen Yuming ask coldly, "Why is it you?"

Shen Li gave a soft laugh. "The Heavenly Secrets have given their command. I dare not disobey."

But late at night, when all was quiet, he lifted a lock of black hair that had fallen over Wen Yuming's chest. Clinging to him, he said, "Of course it would be me, Brother Zili. I've come to collect a debt."

Wen Yuming looked at the little rogue coldly. "What debt?"

Shen Li leaned close to his ear, his breath fragrant, and enunciated each word: "A debt of love."

Shen Li was brimming with confidence. He had carefully planned this move and his reply for ages. Surely, after this exchange, his easily flustered Brother Zili wouldn't be able to handle it!

But then an arm tightened around his waist, and he collided with the chest that he remembered as slender but was now solid with muscle. Wen Yuming's voice sounded in his ear, ruthless and possessive: "Remember, this is what you chose."

Wen Yuming met a little nemesis who barged into his darkest days carrying the sunshine.

He tried hard to keep himself from dragging the boy into the darkness, even if it meant falling back into the abyss alone.

But he never expected the little nemesis to bring his own light and jump down to keep him company.

In that case, he would never let go of this light that he could keep all to himself.

Eleven years ago, sixteen-year-old Wen Yuming, a proper young gentleman, watched the child named Shen Li carefully count out spring lotus candies, one by one. Shen Li pushed half the pile toward him, then waved his little hand grandly and said, "There are seventy-three in all. Half each is thirty-six. You're a guest, so you can have the extra one."

Wen Yuming's good manners made him swallow the words, "But I paid for these candies," and accept little Shen Li's "generosity."

Eleven years later, twenty-seven-year-old Wen Yuming, now a tyrannical despot, silently pushed a plate piled high with spring lotus candies toward Shen Li. When Shen Li looked at him questioningly, he said in a low voice, "You're a guest. You can have them all."

But the little rascal of years past pushed the candies aside and, heedless of the chill of the tyrant's presence, pressed close. In a soft, sweet voice, he said, "But, Brother Zili, I don't want to be your guest. I want to be your wife."

Wen Yuming's hand trembled beneath his sleeve. He closed his eyes and accepted his fate.

He hadn't been a match for this boy eleven years ago, and he still wasn't one now.

Wen Yuming (gong) x Shen Li (shou)

A gloomy, brutal, cool ruler who seems all-powerful but is secretly flirtatious gong x a beautiful, healing, face-loving shou who talks a big game but is pure at heart

Theme: Keep choosing kindness, whatever your circumstances.